All you ever wanted to know about cigars

Churchill: A large Corona format - the standard dimensions are 7 inches by 47 ring gauge.

Robusto: The size is generally 4 3/4 to 5 1/2 inches by 48 to 52 ring gauge.

Lonsdale: Generally long and medium thickness, with a classic size of 7 inches by 42 ring gauge.

• Figurados: Any cigar that is not a straight-sided cylinder. A growing number of cigar houses are offering more creatively shaped smokes. For example:

Torpedo: Although many companies include cigars called Torpedos in their portfolios, the cigars are often Pyramids. A true Torpedo is a rare cigar today, a smoke with a closed foot, a head tapered to a point, and a bulge in the middle. For example: Cuaba Millennium.

Diadema: Enormous, 8 1/2 inches or longer. The head is tapered, though often not to a complete point, usually with a 40 ring gauge. The cigar then tapers to a foot that can be open like a Parejo, usually with a ring gauge of 52 or greater.

What to look for while buying cigars

• Quality of wrapper: There should not be any specks, dots, marks


• Scent: Gently inhale the cigar; there should be a sweetness, no sourness


• Storage: How has the cigar been stored; check or ask about the humidity and temperature of the humidor.


• Colour: With growing innovation in tobacco, the colour of the cigar can be a useful general guide but it is no longer is a testament to the strength of the cigar.

• Store in a Humidor


• Temperature should be between 16 to 21 degree Celsius


• Humidity should be between 69% and 72%


• Invest in a good quality humidor. For example, Kraken from The India Cigar Club.

Top 5 cigar brands available in India

• Hoyo De Monterrey (Cuban). Price: Petit Robustos box of 25 sticks, Rs 32,000.


• Cavalier (Swiss/Honduran). Price: Elegantes box of 20 Sticks, Rs 42,000.


• El Arista (Dominican). Price: Pulita Toro Maduro box of 10 Sticks, Rs 37,500


• Arturo Fuente. Price: Opus X The Lost City box of 5 sticks (Assortment), Rs 37,500.


• Adventura (Dominican). Price: The Conqueror box of 20 sticks, Rs 49,000.

• Cigar Lounge, The Oberoi, New Delhi


• The India Cigar Club Home, New Delhi (Members only)


• The Crompton, Kolkata


• Taj Lounge, Mumbai


• Bluebar, Taj Palace, New Delhi

• Elegantes, White Series - Cavalier Cigars (Honduran)


• The Crow, Blackbird (Dominican)


• Royal Corona, Bolivar (Cuban)


• Exactus Maduro, El Artista (Dominican)


• Black Bullet, El Septimo (Costa Rica)

Never smoke a cigar on an empty stomach. If you feel woozy or nauseous, stop, it’s not a competition. Though perfect cigar pairing choices vary, Kapoor’s perfect pairings are:

Food:

• Truffles Not So Arrogant by Surya Concepts


• Creamy coconut lal chutney pasta


• Chocolate cake


• Tiramisu

• Iced Rum


• Muddy Fair Cocktail


• Shivi Paloma Cocktail


• Rich Iced Americano


• Blue Mountain coffee from Jamaica

Some commonly used words are:

• Binder: The leaf that is rolled around the filler to hold it together.


• BOTL: Brother Of The Leaf, a term of endearment used for male cigar smokers, who are friends or acquaintances.


• SOTL: Sister Of The Leaf, a term of endearment used for female cigar smokers, who are friends or acquaintances.


• Cigarden: A cigar garden. A landscaped backyard environment that has been specifically designed for cigar smoking.


• Herf: Loosely applies to a ‘cigar smoking event’. It can be a dinner, cognac or whiskey and cigar tasting combined, or simply a scheduled gathering where people get together to smoke a cigar. The main objective of any herf is relaxation and camaraderie, everything else is secondary - even the cigars.


• Plume: The crystallisation of oils from the tobacco of a cigar; it takes on the appearance of a light greyish-white dust on the wrapper. It is not harmful; some even believe it enhances a cigar’s taste.


• Puro: A cigar whose wrapper, binder and filler are made with tobaccos that are all grown in the same country. For example, the Punch Gran Puro made with 100% Honduran tobacco.


• Head: The end of the cigar that is clipped.


• Cap: The piece of tobacco that covers the head of the cigar, the end that you will ultimately clip.

The India Cigar Club, CigarKings India, and Light 'em Up together have announced a series of virtual meet-ups to bridge the gap between cigar lovers. Those interested can subscribe to The Indian Cigar Club mailing list and/or sign up to receive the invitation link straight in your inbox.